drukenknight: Here is a fun one from a rapid game I played last night. I like to play the early h4 because I like the ALbin-Chatard attack and this move is a nice waiting move, since black seems trained to respond to the basic replies. Most black players will play 5...c5 automatically, so it makes the analysis of the early part pretty straightforward.

I had been playing this as white, and the problem was what to do when black brings the Q to b6 and then gives check.

Another interesting thing is that the game leaves book on move 5. Couldnt find any games in the chessbase data base or this website. And it doesnt transpose back into any games either, zero! I cannot believe no one has played 5 h4.

So the game is unique at a very early stage and thus there is lots of room for improvements, if you like to experiment as white in the French.

technical draw: Good game, drunkenknight! You're right about black automatically playing 5...c5. I did it too. Maybe black should play first 5...Be7, like in Keres-Wade London, 1954. But the great Keres won that game anyway!

AdrianP: <DK> Nice game... h4 looks interesting... it's an idea which pops up in other lines of the french, and seems to be getting played earlier and earlier: I think you'll find some games of Morozevich's with an early h4, sometimes with ideas of a Rook lift to h3.

8. ...cxd4 looks like a substantial improvement for B to me, though.

9. b4?! Qc7! and W has to do something about the hanging pawns on both c3 and e5.

Maybe there's an improvement for W earlier on: 7. Na4 looks a little dangerous to me. The following is a nice little trap
7. Nf3 Qxb2?! 8. Nb5! threatening all sorts including the simple Nc7+

Who knows, maybe 5. h4!? will become the Drukenknight Variation of the French Classical!

drukenknight: Thanks for the tips guys. I had been studying some of the Albin-Chatard attacks and may be able to post some of that.

Adrian, you're right: 8...cxd4 is really the best way to go. Computer gives black a slight edge here so I will have to work on that.

Also 10...b4 11 c4 leads to very tricky play involving that looming discovered check. 10...b4 is am improvement and would have prevented 11 b4. This was a 10 min game and black was already starting to consume time at that pt.

I had been playing similar lines before, but I kept getting into the position after 8...b5. In several games I had made a poor 9th move, and black followed with 9...Qxa4. Well duh! That was what I kept missing, that Q is now free to hit the N. Most players play 8...b5 somewhat automatically.

They like to preclude the N or B from b5; this is followed by 6 Nh3 which can lead to very tricky play often involving a N sack on e5. Like if eventually black plays Be7 (a natural move as you pointed out)and white gets in Nf4, then BxB KxB and the two white Ns attack d4 sometimes forking K/Q and sometimes just clearing the way for the Rooks.

Cyphelium: <drukenknight> As usual, if there is an alternative to taking the poisoned pawn one should try it. After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. h4 c5 6. Bg5 Qb6 7. Qd2 cxd4, black seems to be a pawn up and has the better position. 8. Nb5 Nc6 and white has some problems with pawn e5 as well. Frankly I believe that idea of playing h4 to be able to play Bg5 is bad in this position. Playing h2-h4 in the french is mostly done when one is able to cover pawn d4 whith a pawn on c3, like in the Winawer. Anyway, maybe something else than 6. Bg5 could be tried.

drukenknight: the chessbase computer did not see a problem with 6 Bg5; 7 Qd2 could be a mistake, I havent really checked it, maybe you are right about that. I just wanted to point out the trap. Again, the opening could stand some more research, I posted some of MOrozovich's games that have an early h4. There were only 3 of them that I could find, not really the same thing.

soughzin: Bg5 is often played on move 4 and h4 on move 5. Of course then on move 4 black can play Bb4 or dxe. But I don't get why black plays dxe there as they can play 3...dxe straight off and cut down the theory a lot.

The Finisher: I lost in this line as white. Thought I had found my answer. No :(

All the kids are playing e6. It makes no sense, as it is a very mature, solid, boring choice. I grew up with e4-e5, then everyone aped Kasparov (fair enough) with e4-c5.

If I can't find an answer I will shift to d4 or c4. When he plays e6 I might as well write 0-1 on my score sheet. I will have a look at the exchange now. Maybe that's the answer; get rid of that blasted pawn chain.

parisattack: <The Finisher: I lost in this line as white. Thought I had found my answer. No :(
All the kids are playing e6. It makes no sense, as it is a very mature, solid, boring choice. I grew up with e4-e5, then everyone aped Kasparov (fair enough) with e4-c5.

If I can't find an answer I will shift to d4 or c4. When he plays e6 I might as well write 0-1 on my score sheet. I will have a look at the exchange now. Maybe that's the answer; get rid of that blasted pawn chain.>

I've had some success with 1. e4 and 2. c4 against both the French and Caro-Kann.

The KIA against the French is solid, also.

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